Every time Walt Disney World or Disneyland increase ticket costs, followers come out of the woodwork to defend the choice. They clarify why even on the greater prices, Disney theme parks are an amazing worth as in comparison with different leisure choices. Others do the precise reverse, complaining about any and all greater costs.
I hate all of that. So naturally, I’m going to affix them and do the very factor I decry! However as an alternative of participating in some free PR for the massive company or level out the apparent that paying extra stinks, I’m going to dig a little bit deeper and supply context. I’m not beginning this submit with a preordained conclusion, or emphatic sure (or no!) to the titular query.
I totally count on Walt Disney World and Disneyland to outperform some types of leisure. (“It’s me, hello, I’m the issue, it’s me.” ~Taylor Swift) I’m additionally not going to cherry decide the alternatives or body this evaluation in the absolute best gentle to succeed in the invariable conclusion that Walt Disney World and Disneyland provide nice per-hour worth for cash. I do know the parks are dearer than loads of issues.
For the sake of this evaluation, we’re going to have a look at a median single day ticket for 2025, which prices roughly $175 at Magic Kingdom or $180 at Disneyland. Observe that we’re utilizing the 2 fortress parks for the benefit of comparability. Admittedly, it’s additionally to discard the beginning worth of Walt Disney World tickets, which is a advertising and marketing gimmick that solely applies to Animal Kingdom and would skew the numbers.
It’s price noting that Disneyland has a wider vary for ticket costs: $104 to $206, whereas Magic Kingdom’s vary is $139 to $199. The rationale the median is greater is as a result of the distribution of dates skews that manner. There are solely a scattering of dates on the lowest worth, whereas there are numerous extra for the highest tiers of tickets.
Each coasts elevated costs for 2025. That’s not noteworthy for Disneyland, which has raised costs yearly for the final a number of consecutive years. Nonetheless, Walt Disney World had not elevated admission prices over the past two years, regardless of elevating costs on just about every little thing else.
Regardless of elevating base costs, Disneyland has already rolled out admission reductions for 2025. It’s seemingly that there will probably be extra to return, and in addition that Walt Disney World will observe swimsuit. We joke about Disney learning on the Kohl’s Enterprise College the place sticker costs are rendered meaningless by reductions, and it’s sorta true. Larger base costs create the looks of higher offers.
Regardless, single day tickets for the fortress parks are being chosen as a result of it’s the cleanest comparability to most different leisure. Though this will likely come as a shock to Disney diehards who’ve Annual Passes or all the time buy lengthy multi-day tickets, 1-day tickets are an extremely widespread ticket sort. Most vacationers nonetheless solely do day-trips to Disney as a part of all-encompassing Florida or California holidays.
With that in thoughts, we do suppose it’s additionally price acknowledging the distinction between a single day ticket and a 4-night trip. The latter is often considerably cheaper on a per-hour foundation, however rather more costly as a complete. That may be a good evaluation as a result of Walt Disney World has 4 theme parks and is a trip vacation spot, nevertheless it ceases to be an apples to apples one with different leisure choices.
Then once more, if Walt Disney World and Disneyland followers need to play the multi-day comparability recreation, they actually ought to accomplish that with different trip locations and not leisure. That doesn’t occur as a result of the outcomes all of the sudden aren’t almost as favorable. If folks knew simply how (in)costly it’s to go to the U.S. Nationwide Parks and even that Tokyo Disney Resort is cheaper than Walt Disney World…they could try this as an alternative!
In any case, it’s inconceivable to do The Math™️ on a full trip bundle on a per-hour foundation. It’s in all probability enough for this submit to level out that trip packages value a lot much less per hour however rather more total. For extra thorough evaluation, we’ll refer you to How A lot Does a Walt Disney World Trip Price? for the breakdown.
This merely determines the per-hour worth of a single day in Walt Disney World or Disneyland. This may appear like a easy matter of taking the per day prices above and dividing that by the variety of working hours in a day, proper?
I’m skeptical of such an method for a few causes. First, what share of friends are literally arriving at park opening and staying till park closing? Positive, that’s an choice. And it would appear to be that is probably the most “truthful” method since you may additionally go away a sporting occasion early if it’s a blowout or a live performance if you wish to beat visitors. I feel that’s a bit totally different, although, as the typical individual experiences a sporting occasion or live performance in full, whereas they spend X variety of hours per go to at a spot like a theme park or museum.
Second, this sort of evaluation conveniently overlooks the period of time spent ready in line at theme parks. If I am going to a Taylor Swift live performance, I’m going to come across strains to purchase merchandise, meals, and for the restrooms or no matter. However the music “Anti-Hero” isn’t gated behind a 3-hour line. I stand in a single spot, and the leisure involves me in succession with no considerable, non-enjoyment downtime in between.
With Walt Disney World and Disneyland, the ‘satisfying hours’ are a bit totally different. It’s not as if the one moments of leisure are available 5-minute or so concentrations of every experience. Strolling round absorbing the environment counts. So too does consuming, procuring, or “seeing stuff.” Standing in line isn’t all unhealthy–however not all enjoyable, both.
The issue is that this makes it exceedingly tough to calculate. In case you simply use what number of hours the parks are open, that’s readily ascertainable. Satisfying hours for the typical individual is extra summary and open for debate. Nonetheless, that’s the malleable metric I’m going to make use of, as a result of it appears fairer.
I’m additionally going to say that quantity is 8 hours, on common, at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. If I needed to complicate issues even additional, I’d muddy the water by claiming that the typical for Walt Disney World is 7-8 hours whereas Disneyland is 8-9 hours. I feel I may realistically make that assertion based mostly on variations in climate and operations, however I received’t. (Even whether it is in all probability true-ish!)
(Circling again to the entire trip bundle vs. leisure expertise problem, I’ll say that this ‘satisfying hours’ problem arguably makes Disney Cruise Line cheaper per hour than Walt Disney World or Disneyland even when it’s sometimes dearer as a complete. However that’s past the scope of this submit–one other matter for one more day!)
Because of this the per hour value of a Walt Disney World or Disneyland day is roughly $22. Right here’s how that compares to different stuff that will or might not leisure you:
- Books – The library offers me these without cost. I routinely pay late charges on account of, let’s name them scheduling points. I additionally pay taxes that assist assist the library, however that’s true of loads of issues I don’t use. Nonetheless, the per hour value for books is measured in cents, not {dollars}.
- Griffith Observatory – Free admission and entry to a Terminator filming location. Infinity worth at $0 per hour.
- The Getty/Villa – Two of the most effective museums in the US are additionally free. Sadly, no Terminator tie-ins, however nonetheless $0 per hour.
- The Ocean – In each Florida and California, you possibly can go to the seaside without cost. If you wish to do actions–and never simply take a look at the ocean, enter it, or stroll round it–determine which may value you a couple of {dollars} per hour. (Rather more should you do one thing like whale watching, however that’s technically not “the ocean,” however slightly, “the whales.”)
- Nintendo Swap Recreation – I can not imagine online game followers complain about costs, as they’re simply the most effective worth in leisure. At most, I’m paying $1 per hour that I play a online game. Some video games I’ve had for years–or many years–value cents per hour.
- Balboa Island – Technically, there’s all the time cash within the banana stand, so should you play your playing cards proper, visiting Balboa might be fairly a worthwhile enterprise. If not, it’ll set you again a couple of dollars per hour.
- Common Museum – There are loads of museums in Central Florida and Southern California that do cost for admission, with a tough per hour worth of round $5.
- Joshua Tree Nationwide Park – The America the Stunning AP prices eighty bucks and covers entrance charges at lands managed by the Nationwide Park Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service and day use charges at different alphabet soup companies. It covers the passholder and all occupants of their car. Or you possibly can pay $30 per car for 7 days. Both manner, it’s a couple of dollars per hour, per individual.
- Everglades Nationwide Park – Identical deal at Everglades Nationwide Park in Florida. I suppose it may value extra should you get attacked by an owl or gator and wanted medical consideration, however isn’t that simply a part of The Florida Expertise™️?
- Film Tickets – Our native theater is a Cinépolis, which is fancy. These may be present in each Orange Counties. However we go throughout matinee hours or half-priced Tuesdays when tickets are $10. Let’s say that the nationwide common is nearer to $18 and the standard film is 2 hours. That’s $9 per hour. (Nobody is forcing you to purchase popcorn. Popcorn is noisy and mediocre–it’s salt and butter that tastes good. Popcorn’s recognition is mystifying.)
- San Diego Zoo or Safari Park – That is the most effective zoo in America (good attempt, Ohio!) and the park that Animal Kingdom was based mostly on. Reductions listed below are plentiful, however we’ll simply go together with common ticket costs, which put the per hour value round $10.
- Los Angeles Angels Recreation – Regardless of squandering two generational skills, the Angels are terrible and nobody needs to attend their video games. $12 per hour is supposedly the typical, however we’ve by no means paid that a lot to look at them–not even when Ohtani and Trout have been each within the lineup.
- Los Angeles Dodgers Recreation – After successful the World Collection, Dodgers video games are in some way going to be much more costly in 2025 than they have been this 12 months. I’m guessing $75 to $100 per hour on common, and that was after a dramatic bounce following the signing of Shohei (clearly cash effectively spent).
- Tampa Bay Rays Recreation – Regardless of really being nice, nobody goes to Rays video games as a result of they’re “too far” away. As if Dodgers Stadium is simple to entry. $12 per hour.
- Tampa Bay Lightning or Anaheim Geese Recreation – The typical value of those two groups is sort of equivalent. It’s in some way under the Winnipeg Jets who play (and that is true) in Winnipeg. However that’s in Canada, and who is aware of what’s up with their forex. $25 per hour.
- Coachella – As a result of I’m so certain there’s appreciable overlap between the audience for Disney theme parks and the audience for Coachella, I’m together with this. I feel the final act I acknowledged that carried out at Coachella was Hologram Tupac. Each time I see the annual lineup launch, I wonder if it’s written in code (simply what’s a “070 Shake”) and understand I’m previous. However I suppose should you’re younger and hip, this can be a good technique to burn $40 per hour.
- Orlando Magic Recreation – Regardless of rising up in Michigan on the tail finish of the Unhealthy Boys period, my favourite NBA workforce rising up was the Magic. Who didn’t love Shaq and Penny?! You received’t see them right now, which might be why the typical per hour value is “solely” $35.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Recreation – Admittedly, that is based mostly on knowledge from final 12 months when the Bucs have been a very totally different workforce. The typical per hour value may’ve been greater than right now, at $53.
- Los Angeles Chargers Recreation – The ethical of the story, unsurprisingly, must be that Hollywood leisure is dearer than Florida enjoyable. $63 per hour.
- Los Angeles Lakers Recreation – Going to the Lake Present is rather more costly, however you’ll additionally get to see one of many recreation’s all-time greats in his closing years. $66 per hour.
- Knott’s Berry Farm Day – A enjoyable and quaint theme park, however arguably with much less to do than Disneyland to fill a full day. Additionally, less expensive admission. $10 per hour. (In case you’re an area, you should purchase a season cross for about the identical value!)
- Common Orlando Day – There are slight variations within the ranges and dates, however Common mainly matches Disney ticket costs of their native markets, making the typical right here almost the identical as Magic Kingdom: $20 per hour.
- Common Studios Hollywood Day – I really like USH and Tremendous Nintendo World, however realistically, you’re getting much less ‘satisfying time’ per day at Common Studios Hollywood with out spending further or visiting throughout the low season. Nonetheless, the bottom worth is identical at $20 per hour.
- Common Las Vegas Present – Everybody loves magic, singing and comedy. Get pleasure from all of that, plus two Disney alums in “Steve Martin & Martin Brief: You Received’t Consider What They Look Like Right this moment!” Common value per hour is about $33.
- Common Broadway Present – Theater is a blind spot for me, however the web says common ticket costs are $122-148. That works out to be round $75 per hour…and now I do know why I’ve a Broadway blind spot! (Yeah yeah, I do know stuff like TKTS exists.)
- Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour – The reported averages are all over–from a lot decrease face worth numbers to insane resale quantities–however the common of these averages of what followers really paid to see Taylor Swift’s newest tour is (very) roughly $435. That’s the per hour value, not the ticket complete. (I do know individuals who paid lower than that for his or her tickets, however the level stands–Taylor Swift prices greater than Disney.)
Which of the entries on this checklist are price it? Which aren’t? That relies upon upon the individual, however what all these items have in widespread is recognition. (Minus the Angels.) So sufficient folks have voted with their wallets and deemed these items ‘price it.’
For our half, we’ve carried out permutations of every little thing on this checklist besides Broadway (which means an costly live performance, however not Taylor Swift; professional sports activities, however solely among the groups talked about). I don’t remorse the cash we spent attending a single one of many occasions. That’s proper, even the Angels video games!
The purpose is that each one of that is extremely subjective, and never simply from individual to individual. Whilst I sit right here, there are experiences that I’d say have been completely, unquestionably “price it” to me at quite a lot of totally different worth factors. Considered one of my all-time most memorable journey experiences was an all-day hike to a seldom-seen spot in Yosemite Nationwide Park, the Diving Board.
My images buddy and I have been actually the one ones there for some of the epic sunsets I’ve ever seen. That vista is indelibly burned into my reminiscence, and the per hour value of that hike was in all probability a greenback or so given the price of my AP. Ought to this expertise be the benchmark towards which every little thing else I do is judged?
However, Sarah and I paid almost $140 every to attend Oogie Boogie Bash, an occasion we’ve attended earlier than at a park to which we even have Annual Passes. The per hour value of that labored out to about $30, and an honest quantity of that point was spent ready in strains. But, we additionally had an absolute blast.
Was that Halloween social gathering not “price it” as a result of it value greater than the hike? (I may additionally add that the hike seemingly improved my well being, whereas the sweet I ate on the Halloween social gathering in all probability did the other.) What if the very same occasion a couple of years in the past was considerably cheaper? Is anybody who pays the upper worth a sucker?
Over time, this weblog has been fairly crucial of assorted upcharges choices at Walt Disney World, save for my treasured events. (We’ve been solely mildly crucial of the worth will increase for these. Presumably as a result of we take pleasure in them and are thus biased, whereas we don’t like most different upcharges. Hmmm.)
Anyway, there’s a pervasive sense of FOMO that drives many individuals to spend on pointless experiences at Walt Disney World. Take into account it a type of maintaining with the net Joneses/Kardashians. Which may even be why some folks go to Disney within the first place–they see their “buddies” do it on social media, really feel pressured to take their youngsters on the rite-of-passage journey with the intention to be a “good” father or mother, put on ‘Most Costly Day Ever’ shirts in quiet protest, and drop 1000’s of {dollars} on a trip they perhaps didn’t need within the first place.
In relation to upcharges, the FOMO impact can be a driver of pricing. Experiences like fireworks dessert events or eating packages have nightly capacities that quantity within the a whole bunch, whereas there are tens of 1000’s of individuals watching the nighttime spectaculars every evening. You don’t want a math whiz to elucidate why these items reserving up shortly is extra a numbers recreation than it’s a reflection of whether or not these items are “price it.”
However simply because there’s a FOMO impact or it’s restricted capability or priced extremely doesn’t imply folks can’t be proud of the expertise and discover it was price it to them. It wouldn’t be price it to me, however I’m not the final word arbiter of worth. Others might be sincerely glad with the providing and even have been prepared to pay extra for it!
It in all probability goes with out saying, however prices relative to enjoyment can even range. Within the case of the aforementioned Yosemite hike, I’d pay $1,000 proper now to be immediately transported again to that second. Heck, I’d give the identical quantity to look at SpectroMagic yet another time! Worth is nebulous, and doubtless the easiest way to evaluate it’s not comparatively, however after the very fact.
With the good thing about hindsight, would you pay that a lot to have carried out it for the primary time? What would you pay to do it once more? The solutions are going to range from individual to individual, and simply because somebody derives pleasure from a nearly-free ebook or hike doesn’t imply that a way more costly live performance or theme park go to isn’t price it to them.
Selection is the spice of life, and that would appear to use to leisure actions and worth propositions, too!
Finally, it’s truthful to say that Walt Disney World and Disneyland are neither the most effective nor the worst values in leisure whenever you try an goal measure. So far as in-person experiences go, they’re about center of the pack–dearer than common parks, films, and museums.
Inexpensive than most sporting occasions, common concert events, Broadway reveals, and Taylor Swift or Beyonce concert events. For the explanations mentioned above, goal measures don’t even start to inform the complete story…to the purpose that they’re virtually pointless! Not solely that, however we haven’t factored in meals, which is just about a necessity when visiting theme parks or attending a multihour expertise. It may be a controversial opinion, however I’d argue Disney Parks provide higher bang for buck in relation to quick meals as in comparison with virtually anything–stadiums, live performance venues, museums, zoos (our native library doesn’t serve meals).
It’s additionally truthful to say that anybody preoccupied with per-hour worth isn’t going to be paying the costs listed right here. Truthfully, I used to be shocked about loads of the per-hour averages on leisure we’ve carried out with a point of regularity, as a result of our prices are virtually all the time considerably decrease. The identical might be true with Walt Disney World and Disneyland, each of which supply ticket offers or decrease season costs.
Ultimately, I believe that loads of the complaints about Disney theme parks providing “poor worth” come from longtime followers who’ve seen and felt the trajectory of Walt Disney World and Disneyland costs. I additional suspect that the defenders who contend Disney presents “nice worth” are largely an overcorrection to the critics, or folks desirous to justify their very own Disney addictions. Truthfully, I really feel the identical…as each teams.
In some circumstances, Walt Disney World and Disneyland value twice as a lot right now as they did a decade in the past–and that’s after costs got here near doubling within the decade earlier than that. That’s a tricky tablet to swallow, and whereas I can empathize with the critics, I additionally don’t have entry to a time machine. There are a variety of issues that value considerably extra right now than years in the past, however the market has determined are ‘price’ extra now.
That features each Walt Disney World and Disneyland, as their attendance right now is greater than a decade in the past when the parks have been cheaper. I’d add that this worth evaluation has been made by all of us who nonetheless go to Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Complain as we’d about costs, the votes we’ve made with our wallets converse far louder than our phrases ever may.
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Your Ideas
Do you suppose Walt Disney World and Disneyland are good values on a per-hour foundation as in comparison with different leisure? Is the quantity that you just’re paying to do Disney greater or decrease than $20 per hour? What’s your balking level for a per-hour value of Walt Disney World or Disneyland? What do you consider the value-proposition of the parks: good, unhealthy or ugly? Any questions? We love listening to from readers, so please share another ideas or questions you’ve got within the feedback under!
